Rochdale

Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale Clinical Commissioning Group (HMR CCG), which is a GP-led organisation, is seeking to conquest the existing Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PCT’s commissioning of NHS services.

It has been found that the CCG would be the manager of the health budget from April 2013. Though, on behalf of people of Rochdale borough, the group only would decide how the budget is invested into healthcare.

The report has recovered that the decision is but being opposed by a large count of people. A meeting was held last Friday, where the HMR CCG had participated and the same had to face a petition signed by hundreds of people against the group’s plan.

A total of 426 local people had signed against the same, requesting HMR CCG to stop from proceeding towards further privatisation of the NHS. Paul Bailey, representing national campaigning group 38 Degrees at the meeting, said patient services should be ensured for protection and should not be associated to private companies like Virgin Healthcare or Serco.

The group serves some 235,800 people residing in Middleton, Heywood, Rochdale and Pennines. It is being said that GPs along with other clinicians would also get engaged with local people so that fulfilment of their health needs could be ensured.